She called police in the UK, who contacted police in New Delhi but they were unable to help, because Mr Rowland refused to open the door of his flat when they arrived.

The inquest in Oxford heard that Indian laws prevented police and paramedics from forcing their way into his flat and saving his life. He died from his wounds.

Ms Zalinski said she contacted Mr Rowland, originally from Wantage, on November 27 last year on Skype when he was in India on business.

She said: “He was just in a complete state. He was sweating profusely and his eyes were just staring.

“He kept saying ‘they are going to get me, they are going to get me’.”

She and a friend tried to calm him down but Mr Rowland became more agitated, then cut himself.

A post mortem found he died as result of blood loss.

Recording a narrative verdict, Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner said: “Mr Rowland injured himself and died as a result of those injuries. But he was clearly going through a major mental crisis
and I cannot go any further than that.”